We the undersigned residents of Tennessee call on the Hamilton County Commission to vote for the removal of the statue of A.P. Stewart, a Confederate general, which is in the place of honor in front of the Hamilton County Courthouse.

The statue of this general in full Confederate regalia is a symbol of the Confederacy, which rebelled against the United States to preserve slavery.

It is a slap in the face to African Americans who have suffered from racism for over 400 years.

It is a symbol of oppression that plays into the hands of modern white supremacists.

It is an offense to Americans of all races who believe in racial equality and harmony in our country.

It belongs in a history museum or archive, not in a place of honor in front of a court of law.